The beginning of 2008 God inspired a family ministry called Emerging Life Ministries. At first it was more of an idea than reality but He is gradually unfolding His purpose for this ministry. May He emerge more deeply in your life through this ministry. Visit the complete website at www.emerginglifeministries.net

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Get Up and Eat!

“Then David got up
from the ground…changed his clothes…went to the house of the LORD and
worshipped…His servants asked him, ‘While the child was alive, you fasted and
wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat…’ ‘Can I bring him
back again?I will go to him, but he
will not return to me.’” 2 Sam. 12:20-23.

Sunday, I bumped into a friend of mine whom I haven’t seen
in years.I heard that her husband had
died of cancer last year and was asking her about it.Her story could have been spoken with the
passage above.She told of their dark
journey through cancer, a journey all too familiar to most of us, as the
disease seems to touch every family I know.But what wasn’t familiar was the way she handled her grief.She was
David…She is David.Her story was
much of the same…weeping…praying…fasting… asking God for His will first, then
her will.Once her husband was taken to
Heaven she arose from her circumstances, changed her prayers from an earthly
healing to a spiritual acceptance, turning to God for His grace, mercy and
comfort.She said her prayers were full
of praise.Her praise was anchored in
His faithfulness to heal her heart, and His promise to reunite her with the love
of her life.You see, her prayers along
the journey had not been anchored in an outcome, but truly anchored in God’s
will.

Her husband’s death does not define her but the love and
healing of God marks her.It is easy to
see to whom she places her complete trust and belief.She immediately ‘got up and ate’ and is
feasting on the table of the Lord for grace, comfort and healing.Her words are full of victory instead of
victim, and praise instead of self-pity.She fully understands that her loved one lives in the spiritual home
where she is going.She even said that
some people have criticized her for the attitude she has chosen to live – getting up and eating!

She lives her life for God’s approval instead of man’s
opinions.She walks in healing and
permeates grace instead of grief…gratitude for his life instead of bitterness
for his death.She is a wonderful measuring
stick who exemplifies a faith for which I desire.Her getting
up and eating attitude is a true testament to her faith with her heart bent
towards God.She has fully embraced the
will of God.The passing of a loved one
is heart wrenching but God is a heart healer!When we are ready to get up and embrace the healing of God’s touch, we
will be fed with everything required to hold our hearts until we hold our loved
ones again.